May Cause Confidence...

Pimples. Blackheads. Zits. Blemishes. These words are not usually associated with sexuality. Clearasil's genius new marketing endeavours certainly prove this traditional mentality to be incorrect.

There are hundreds of skin care products available for teenagers today. From Neutrogena to ProActive, a teenage girl or boy has the option of choosing whichever product provides the best results. But with the recent launch of a new advertising campaign, Clearasil seems to be gaining an advantage over other products.

Catchy slogan, "May Cause Confidence", portrays the idea that using Clearasil gives teenagers the confidence to burst out in random bits of sexual innuendos. In one commercial, a girl and her assumed boyfriend are sitting together on a couch, separated by her mother, who is showing the boyfriend baby pictures of the daughter. The girl's mother then shows the boy a picture of the girl when she was young, naked in the tub. In a seductive voice, the girl then says, "You should see me now."

The media attention that this campaign is receiving has certainly proven profitable for Clearasil. With sales up 3.8% and much anticipated continued successes, sexually related advertisements are the most beneficial for products aimed at younger buyers.

Despite the economic praise Clearasil has been given, the company has certainly been bombarded with antagonizing criticisms. Hundreds of overprotective parents have mailed in complaints, claiming the commercials inappropriate for teen viewers. While these parents may very well have only the best of intentions, it's time they realize that this generation of teens is growing up at a faster pace than ones before. Now, more than ever, teenagers are acuratly able to distinguish between reality and make believe. If anything, these commercials are more understood by teenagers than by their parents.

Wether you agree or disagree with the ethics behind Clearasil's campaign, the numbers demonstrate that it is (and will mostly likely continue to be) nothing but monetarilly advantageous. And who knows, the product really may cause confidence.